"I love it. I really love this because this is a great challenge for us and a great way to see where we are at," Chizik said. "It comes at a great time. We are ready to play this type of game right now.

"I don't know if we would open with them. I think it is time for us to play a team that is this good and just see where we are Sunday morning."

The Mountaineers, who scored 31 unanswered points to defeat Auburn 34-17 in Morgantown last season, enter Saturday night's game with a 2-0 record after opening wins over Liberty and East Carolina.

"Last year we just got out-physicaled," linebacker Josh Bynes said. "They were executing the plays better and we just got out-physicaled.

" This year, we're a lot more physical and a lot better and executing plays a lot better. So we're a whole different team than what we were."